Police capture suspect accused of assaulting officer

Published: Monday, September 16, 2013 at 06:53 AM.

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A Gastonia police officer was hurt Sunday night while trying to arrest a man who was assaulting a bail bonds agent, according to police. The officer was reaching into the car when the suspect drove away, dragging her and sideswiping another car as she held on.

The suspect, Lumarris Guinn, 22, fled the scene but was caught around 3 p.m. Monday. The incident began around 8:40 p.m. Sunday with a reported assault at 215 E. Garrison Blvd., across from the Water Tower shopping area. Police arrived around 9 p.m. to find the assault taking place, said Gastonia Police Sgt. N.R. Capistran.

"He was assaulting a woman bail bondsman. They were trying to locate him and pick him up on some warrants they had on him," Capistran said. According to police records, the bail bondman was a Charlotte woman named Kali McPherson. Guinn had outstanding warrants from Charlotte for driving while license revoked and failure to appear. According to arrest records, Guinn slammed McPherson’s hand in the door of his car.

A female police officer, Officer L.D. Neely, then attempted to arrest Guinn, but he fled in a black PT Cruiser, dragging the officer, who had reached inside. The car sideswiped another car with Neely still hanging on, Gastonia Police Capt. Steve Duncan said. The incident could have been much worse, he said.

A Gastonia police officer was hurt Sunday night while trying to arrest a man who was assaulting a bail bonds agent, according to police. The officer was reaching into the car when the suspect drove away, dragging her and sideswiping another car as she held on.

The suspect, Lumarris Guinn, 22, fled the scene but was caught around 3 p.m. Monday. The incident began around 8:40 p.m. Sunday with a reported assault at 215 E. Garrison Blvd., across from the Water Tower shopping area. Police arrived around 9 p.m. to find the assault taking place, said Gastonia Police Sgt. N.R. Capistran.

"He was assaulting a woman bail bondsman. They were trying to locate him and pick him up on some warrants they had on him," Capistran said. According to police records, the bail bondman was a Charlotte woman named Kali McPherson. Guinn had outstanding warrants from Charlotte for driving while license revoked and failure to appear. According to arrest records, Guinn slammed McPherson’s hand in the door of his car.

A female police officer, Officer L.D. Neely, then attempted to arrest Guinn, but he fled in a black PT Cruiser, dragging the officer, who had reached inside. The car sideswiped another car with Neely still hanging on, Gastonia Police Capt. Steve Duncan said. The incident could have been much worse, he said.

Neely was taken to CaroMont Regional Medical Center, where she was treated and released, Capistran said. Police found the PT Cruiser a short time later a few blocks away on West Sixth Avenue. Guinn was charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, resisting arrest and felony hit and run, among other charges. He was placed in Gaston County Jail on a $509,000 secured bond.

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.